Інстытут палітычных даследаванняў "Палiтычная сфера"
The study provides a detailed analysis of educational migration from Belarus to 35 European countries, as well as Turkey and Russia, in the period 2013–2025. During this period, the absolute number of Belarusian students abroad declined (from about 34 thousand in 2013 to 28.8 thousand in 2023), yet their share relative to the total number of students in Belarus increased noticeably. Nowadays, there are approximately seven students in Belarus for every one student abroad, whereas ten years ago the ratio was one to thirteen.
Migration destinations have changed dramatically. Russia’s share fell from 70% to 32% of the total, while Poland emerged as the leading destination, increasing from 11% to 44%. The shares of other countries in Eastern and Central Europe also grew significantly, while Western and Northern Europe experienced stagnation or decline.
The study identifies key trends in the geographical distribution of Belarusian students abroad and examines their underlying causes, which may be useful in the development of educational and academic programmes. The study concludes with the key findings and projections.
